Arthur Lynch: St Catherine’s was 'a game Fanad United simply had to win’ 

Champions Fanad United are back on top of the Brian McCormick Sports Premier Division following Sunday’s 2-0 win over title rivals St Catherine’s.

Darren McElwaine and Eddie O’Reilly scored the goals for Arthur Lynch’s side in a 2-0 victory as they leapfrog the Killybegs men to go back to the summer of the Donegal League’s top tier. 

“It was a game we had to win,” said Lynch. “I know people were saying we have two games in hand but we came into today's game a point behind St Catherine’s.

“We could not afford to let that gap slip any further and, on home turf, we needed to win the game.

“We were focused on the game for the last two weeks and thankfully the boys turned up today and, to a man, did the business.  

“We had a few boys back from injury and they drove us on. It was a big result for us”.

Lynch also admitted it took his team a little time to settle against Shaun Kelly’s charges, who had only lost once before Sunday’s encounter. 

“They are very dangerous on the break. They are a good side, St Catherine’s. 

“They work really hard and they are not dissimilar to ourselves. They have good forwards and they are a lively team and you have to be careful against them.” 

Darren McElwaine scored the breakthrough goal just before half-time though the Fanad boss felt there was a touch of good fortune about the goal. 

“The first goal was fortuitous, it deflected off one of their players. But they all count and it put us on the front foot going in at half-time, one up. 

“And Eddie O’Reilly scored the second from a header from a good Paddy Carr delivery. You can always rely on Eddie lurking around the box.” 

As well as the result, Lynch was also very happy with his team’s performance.  

“As the game went on we dropped back but it was one of those situations where we knew we were 2-0 up.

“We knew St Catherine’s were going to have to come at us and it did not need to be pretty at that stage.

“I thought for the first 60 or 70 minutes we were very good. We played some very good football there. 

“All over the pitch, the boys were up for it and we are just delighted to get the three points and push on now”. 

Fanad are back in pole position, two points clear and with two games spare over the Saints. But with five games still to play Lynch warns it’s much too early to be putting the bubbly on ice.   

“We have five games left to play - three away and two at home. There is a long way to go yet and I would not be taking anything for granted.

“We still have a number of tough games to play, among them two derbies with Rathmullan and Swilly. And like all local derbies, form goes out the window in those games. 

“We also have to play Castlefin and Gweedore Celtic, who are fighting for their lives to avoid relegation and we have to go to Kildrum which is never an easy place to get a result. We certainly aren’t looking past the next day out”.